they built paradise

[goldtoxicity]

WHO: Joshua Foley and YOU!
WHERE: Krakoa
WHEN: ~2019 and back
WHAT: Backdated events! Before his kidnapping.
WARNINGS: nsfw here and there!

OPEN PROMPTS.

a diplomatic visit. ~ two years ago

[ this is a necessary evil. if they want to maintain their independence then they need to be non-threatening, or at least enough of an asset that allies are willing to let them be in exchange for a few favors.

no wonder scott summers lost his mind. his life is nothing but moving parts now. so little is stable and nothing feels certain - this empire is built on sand and the slightest rumble will make it fall. all of this has given him newfound respect for the mutants who had come before him, understanding them in a way he never could have back home... but still with the determination not to repeat their mistakes. if sacrifices are to be made, he intends for them to be his.

and it doesn't leave a lot of time for himself - not when he feels like he's promising parts of his soul to people, and sacrificing what's left to maintain the balance. he's tired twenty-four seven.

and it only worsens when someone docks at their harbor. he could leave this to the rest of the council, but he's always found it better to be the first one to greet a new arrival. lest they decide to try to turn the five into a four. ]

So glad you could make it, [ he says, hoping it sounds genuine. golden hands clasp the outstretched hand, his lips curved into a smile. ] Krakoa welcomes you.

beach day. ~ a year and a half ago

[ keeping krakoa running is a full time job. most of the population is too young to really care for themselves. joshua foley has gone from a largely irresponsible mess to - well, still a mess, but a mess with a ton of responsibilities. david's technology keeps him tapped into almost the entire population of the island and their health.

but sometimes? sometimes he needs none of that. he needs quiet.

the beaches are quiet during school hours. josh is sprawled out on the sand in a pair of black swim trunks, one arm folded behind his head, his eyes shut behind a pair of stylish sunglasses. when the shadow falls across his face he groans low and turns away. ]

Oh come on. I know nobody is dead or dying. [ he pushes the glasses up his face. ] Today is me time. Did we not establish this was me time?

stress. ~ a year ago

[ he doesn't remember what set him off. an article, maybe. something small to feed into growing paranoia. realizing that there's yet another person now on krakoa that shouldn't be. something small, something that he can't catch, and he knows there's no point in having that fight because they've had that fight and he can't justify it.

and so his office is in shambles. his fingers tangled in his hair, eyes clenched shut as he breathes hard. ]

Fuck!

[ he sinks slowly down the wall, gritting his teeth. he hears the door open. ]

Not the time!

WILDCARD.

[ hit me up at minimoffs @ plurk or shoot me a dm if you'd like to plan something specific or something off krakoa! ]

Comments

[helpdesk_hero]

[Is he even remotely kidding? David just shakes his head before moving back to Josh and running his fingers through the other man's hair.]

I don't want a break. I want to take care of the man I still love, no matter what I am to him.

[goldtoxicity]

[ he leans into the touch, the epitome of touch-starved. desperate and overwhelmed by everything he feels from david. for david. ]

You say that now.

[ it's a weak attempt at a joke. he loves david. but they don't work. they proved that before, didn't they? ]

[helpdesk_hero]

I say that now. I'll say it tomorrow. I'll say it for every day through the end of our lives, Joshua Foley. There is nothing that hurt me so much as realizing you were gone. How I'd pushed you away, how we'd pushed each other away.

[He tucks Josh's too long hair behind his ear and resolves to get that washed and trimmed.]

Nothing ached more than losing you. I'm not whole without you and Laurie. I made a mistake. The biggest one of my life. And I'll spend the rest of mine trying to make it up to you in whatever way you let me.

[goldtoxicity]

[ he wants to believe it.

but the last man he loved apparently lured him into a trap. the one before that - this one - had broken his heart. and josh had broken his. ]

... talk to me again about it when me being back isn't so new.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Well, David had plenty of time to prove that he meant the change. He'll find a way.]

Of course. And you know I'll listen if you tell me to fuck off. But, for now...

[Have a soft kiss to the forehead.]

I think you might be well enough for some guests, if you want. There are people who would love to see you. Is that okay?

[goldtoxicity]

[ he hesitates. ]

Can I rest a little longer?

[helpdesk_hero]

Of course. But, just a warning... I can't keep Laurie out if she wants to come see you.

[As ever, she had freedom of his home. Everyone else, well, he can probably talk out of leaving Josh alone.]

[goldtoxicity]

S'cool... She's the exception.

[helpdesk_hero]

Isn't she always?

[He chuckles and shakes his head.]

She'll probably be around at some time.

[goldtoxicity]

Yeah.

[ eventually. neither of them are great at dealing with things like this. josh is quiet for a moment. ]

David?

[helpdesk_hero]

[David pulls back and takes the seat by the bed, his attention on Josh fully.]

Yeah?

[goldtoxicity]

[ he's embarrassed to ask. shifting uncomfortably. ]

... Can you lay with me for a while?

[helpdesk_hero]

[The question is out and already David's rising. His shoes are toed off and soon he's in the bed with Josh, curling around him some.]

As long as you need.

[goldtoxicity]

[ he turns as best he can, tucking himself against david's side. his hands find skin where available. he's quiet for a moment.

then there's a shuddering breath. ]

The worst part [ his fingers curl in david's shirt. ] was not being able to feel you... Not knowing if you were okay.

[helpdesk_hero]

[David doesn't assume that Josh really means him and only him. There was Laurie, the Council, the whole of the island. Josh was more intimately tied to Krakoa than anyone. His life was its life. It was wrong, and David regretted it now.]

Physically I was always okay. Though I may be doing a bit better with my training with Judd than I had been.

[goldtoxicity]

I didn't know.

[ his hands clench tighter. ]

I didn't know if they just took me to make a point, or if they were going to destroy all of you without me.

[helpdesk_hero]

They've made no moves. When I confronted Kavinsky he knew nothing of your disappearance. I've been contacted by the Resistance and even they had heard nothing. No, if Stark had a plan, it was different.

[And david doesn't dare pry into systems too close to Tony, let he be noticed.]

Did... anyone say why?

[goldtoxicity]

[ there's a sniffle. an attempt at composure. ]

The kids.

[ its a bad time for i told you sos but he can't help it. he told them. and he was the one who got hurt. he presses his face into david's shoulder. ]

They saw it as an act of aggression... kidnapping kids. Building an army.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Dammit. David's hands around Josh tighten just a hair. Curse those assholes in White Tower.]

The man is insane, as is his wife. Just rabidly mad. They're children and we don't take them. They seek us.

[An army. The very idea makes Josh sick.]

Like you, Laurie, Allison, or I would EVER allow that."

[goldtoxicity]

How would anyone know that, David? [ he just sounds tired. resigned. ] They've been smuggling out of their old factions without a word to anyone.

[ and tony knew his history. he'd told tony as much, being young and impressionable and so badly in need of guidance. ]

We're isolationists lead by a former assassin. [ ... ] Its not really a stretch to assume he'd think that'd involve kids learning how to kill.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Josh... isn't wrong. And still David finds it hard to regret what they have done. So hard.]

They've had to be smuggled because everyone sees them as fodder in these faction games. They're children. Jesus Christ what is WRONG with people?

[David sighs and rubs at his brow.]

We could allow them to visit here, the leaders of factions. Keep Judd around to keep them from forcing their will into the minds of the children. But... but that won't work either, will it?

[goldtoxicity]

No.

[ he closes his eyes.

unlike david, he finds it difficult to take that view. yes, saving everyone is the dream - but reality doesn't allow for that. now the handful they do have will probably lose their home, and they'll lose their lives. ]

I told you all this would happen.

[helpdesk_hero]

You did.

[Congratulations, you told him so. And he didn't agree. And Josh suffered for it. It broke him up inside in the worst ways.]

I'll talk to Allison. We'll... We'll stop.

[goldtoxicity]

[ he says nothing for a moment. his eyes are wet. his breath hitches. ]

We can't keep adding to the island if we can't even protect what we have.

[helpdesk_hero]

I'll find a way, Josh. I... I'll find a way to keep you safe.

{Was it wrong to put Josh first? Yes. Horribly. But in this moment it matters.]

I won't let this place fail. I'm not Scott Summers, and neither are you.